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The Memory Wood

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The Memory Wood

By: Sam Lloyd
Narrated by: Joe Jameson, Emily Beecham
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE MUST-READ RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK. Chilling, moving and unputdownable, The Memory Wood is a thriller like no other.


Elijah has lived in the Memory Wood for as long as he can remember. It's the only home he's ever known.

Elissa has only just arrived. And she'll do everything she can to escape.

When Elijah stumbles across thirteen-year-old Elissa, in the woods where her abductor is hiding her, he refuses to alert the police. Because in his twelve years, Elijah has never had a proper friend.

And he doesn't want Elissa to leave.

Besides, Elijah knows how this can end. After all, Elissa isn't the first girl he's found inside the Memory Wood.

As her abductor's behaviour grows more erratic, chess prodigy Elissa realises that outwitting strange, lonely Elijah is her only hope of survival.

Their cat-and-mouse game of deception and betrayal will determine both their fates, and whether either of them will ever leave the Memory Wood . . .

'Beautifully told, with two superbly drawn young protagonists, Lloyd is a rare new thriller talent' Daily Mail

'Superbly creepy, with an unexpected twist' Guardian

'Brilliant writing, a terrifying story, and characters so real it feels like you know them. If you enjoy dark, twisty thrillers that stay with you, read this book' Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely Wife

Richard and Judy Book Club Pick, Winter 2020

© Sam Lloyd 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Coming of Age Crime Thrillers Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense

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Critic reviews

Beautifully told, with two superbly drawn young protagonists, Lloyd is a rare new thriller talent.
Remarkable. Stunning prose and compulsive reading. It's undoubtedly the best thriller I've read in a long, long time.
What makes this book special is the marvellously executed subterranean power game. Superbly creepy, with an unexpected twist, this is a very grim modern fairytale.
I was pulled into The Memory Wood from the very first page—it grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let you go. It’s an intense, atmospheric, and truly original thriller. Put everything else aside when you enter the Memory Wood, including your expectations…
Forget everything you think you know about thrillers. The Memory Wood is a compulsive page-turner where visceral horror meets Grimm fairytale – a story that’s guaranteed to burn itself into your brain . . . Every twist and distortion evokes a physical response – you’ll be breathless with anticipation, tingling with hope, and numb with dread from beginning to end.
A beautifully written, fast-paced thriller with twists and turns as dark as the cell in which Elissa is confined. We devoured it in a matter of hours.
A darkly chilling and original novel . . . a series of twists keeps readers captivated until a shocking climax.
Brilliant writing, a terrifying story, and characters so real it feels like you know them. If you enjoy dark, twisty thrillers that stay with you, read this book.
The dreamy nature of the story slowly dissipates as the danger deepens, leaving this reader with pounding heart and sweating palms.
The Memory Wood is impossible to put down. It's so wonderfully written, creepily atmospheric and chilling.
All stars
Most relevant
I loved it, finished within 2 days, Full of twists, highly recommended. 5 stars.

By far the best book I've listened too

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Loved this book, keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. Excellent thriller. Brilliantly narrated as well, 5 stars

Gripping, brilliant read

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A very good listen
Great narration
Story slightly confusing
Not altogether believable
Will try more by the author

well written

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This was… ok. I think maybe I am falling out of love with the genre in general as I think a few year ago I would have loved this. The plot seems simple and generic at first glance. Girl is kidnapped and kept captive. So far so…. meh. The twist comes with Elijah, a 12 year old boy who finds her and wants to keep her as a friend so won’t get help for her. There’s some pretty good twists and reveals and I liked the three narrators (one of them extremely unreliable!). However I felt it lacked pace and dragged on somewhat. A fairly entertaining read though…might be good for by the pool. Obe positive was that I really enjoyed the narration. Trigger warning for pregnancy loss and extreme violence.


narration is what saved this

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I found this difficult to put down. I just had to know the ending!

Gripping

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